My Beginnings to Getting & Staying Healthy

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday and got some great Black Friday steals! I spent the holiday in Pittsburgh with my family, and my Steelers won their Thanksgiving game against the Colts so it was a happy holiday for me 🙂

I decided that I wanted to share on this new journey that I’m embarking on and share a story about my personal journey to getting healthy. This past October, I made a real decision that I was finally going to get healthy. I don’t by any means think that I am fat, but I do have some extra pounds that I want/need/could stand to get rid of that to me are unflattering and unhealthy. I have realized that your 20s is the time to really being caring about what you put into your body and how you treat your body. Not only that, despite the stress, confusion and quarter-life crisis we all seem to find ourselves in, our 20s are like the best time of our lives. I realized that I don’t want to feel the least bit of uncomfortable with anything, so I’m starting with my health.

I haven’t lost as much as I would like to yet, but I’ve probably only lost about 5 pounds so far, and that is just from minor tweaks I’ve made to my diet, and routine and with semi-consistent exercise. I know that when I kick it up, I can lose that in like 2 weeks. I know the because I’ve done it before. My mom has always said I have youth on my side. Prior to now, my weight fluctuated up and down in college. I definitely gained the ‘Freshman 15’, and then when I came home that summer I lost it. When I went back for my sophomore year, I gained it right back, and same thing; lost it when I came home that following that summer. However, that time, I didn’t put it all back on. I maintained well, and maybe only put back on a few pounds. From 2014 to now, I’ve put back on something. I’m determined to lose it.

I can no longer use the excuse of school, or having class. I am back home, with no class, and being that I don’t go to work until 12:30, I have the mornings.

So far, I’ve began little things and one of the things I’ve noticed is how important it is to get adequate rest, and stick with a routine. I get up and despite if I exercise or not, I make sure I have a full breakfast, a good sized lunch, and a smaller dinner. I try to make sure that after I eat dinner, I at least stay up for another two hours so my food can properly digest. In between, I have small snacks, whether it be oatmeal, almonds or cashews, or some 100 calorie chip bag, or fruit. I eat more greens and fruits and try my hardest to cut wayyyy back or don’t eat bread at all. I try to leave the fries out or sub them for a healthier choice if I get like wings or something. It’s hard but I know I have to do it. I try to only eat one small sweet a day, and I’ve subbed my morning and afternoon coffee for tea. The coffee is maybe once a week, or sometimes twice if it’s a hard week. I also drink water ALL OF THE TIME. I’m constantly in the bathroom, but luckily I don’t have an issue with that at work. I got a stainless steel water bottle that holds 17 fluid ounces, and I fill it up the second I finish it. If I have a drink that’s not water, I try to drink water before and after to flush out the sugar. It’s a pain because I’m constantly peeing but the results and less bloating is worth it. Sometimes on nights out, I don’t drink as much water as I should, but I double up the next day. Also, green tea! I know these little changes will change to big changes and I’ll see big results.

With exercise, I work out anywhere from 3-5 days a week to kind of ease myself back in, but I think I’m ready to commit to a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 6 days. Right now I am doing Shaun T’s Cize workout. It’s a dance workout where he puts the moves to popular songs and let me tell you, you will SWEAT. It’s a challenge for me to master the routines, and I won’t move on until I do. I’m in the second and a half week. I’ll be sure to post my results!

Those little tweaks have me noticing a different in my tummy and how my jeans even fit. I feel better and I have more energy. I have the mindset now and I’m determined to do it. I wanted to share this to not only keep myself accountable, but to hopefully motivate someone too. I have a goal to meet by late March/early April. I’m determined to have my summer body ready this year!

I hope you guys enjoyed this post, and I will be sure to keep you guys updated! Let me know what you think in the comments below!